Vending machine



Jan. 19, 1932. P w DEwlTZ l 1,841,365

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed May 31. 192'. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALefm-hmds tuuu, zsurnp's STATIONERY AND qPOSTAE .sTAMRs 5 lnsfruaiwns mp ludwl I Stor "n, om klu',

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ATTORN EY Jan. 19, 1932. p, W, H. DEW|TZ 1,841,365

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed May 3l. 192'. 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 :ffy-.2

ff j /f//IMW/ /7 H mi l /6 o; V5 0 av g 66 677/ s g5 IWW 9 y 927 p 08/ l 46 5*57 79 77 7:5 7 l 6 3? .i JE 40 ATTORNEY Jan. 19, P w H DEW|TZ I VENDING MACHINE I Original Filed May 3l. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 o@ \\\\v\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\N\\\\\\\\ lNvENToR 5W/awww@ @Jl/FM 4 ATTORNEY Jan. 19', 15532.

P. W. H. DEWITZ `VENDING MACHINE original Filed May s1, 192? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY /o ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1932 fUNiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE? PAUL w. n. 'nnwITZ oF 'annees CITY, Mssounr; IE'LEN .Tfnnwrrz.wrnoworfsn1n 'Peur w. H. nn'wrtrz, nncnnsnn, As'sGNoR; BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS', To FLORENCE BLANOR'D, on KANSAS ciim'riirrssonnr VENDING MACHINE Appneartion fusa nay a1, 1,927, semi My invention relates to vending machines, and more particularly to a machine for vend-4 ing combinations of` articles, such aspaper, envelopes and postage stamps.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a vending machine of the abovementioned character that is particularly adapted for use in public or semipublic places,.such as hotels, for vending a combination of writing paper, envelopes and postage stamps,.thus making it possible to dispense Ywith a supply of envelopes and writing paper unrestrictedly open to the public, suchV asis now commonly the case in places of this character. It is very commonly the oase, in hotels and similar places, that the general public makes. use of the envelopes and writingv paper furnished for the use of guests bythe hoteland that this makes the expense ofthe same many times what -it `would be if the vuse thereof were restricted to llegitimate purposes. By the use of my invention this .eX- pense is avoided and the paper and envelopes y as well as the postage stamps are paid for by the user. f f

It is a further purpose of my inventionto provide a machine of the above mentioned character that is simple inconstruction and simple to operate, and which willl not `get out of order easily. Furthermore, said machine is preferably so constructed that the mechanism thereinis readily accessible in case it is necessary to adjust or repair the same. lt is a particular .purpose of my invention to provide a vending machine having a drumv provided with aplurality of radially arranged partitions forming compartments or sector-shaped pockets therein for receiving the articles to v`be vended, said articles being delivered from said drum, upontheactuation of suitableoperating means, to the exterior n of said 'machine, by the action of gravity. It is a further object of my invention to provide means for Vrotatinglsaid drum stepV by step so that the article holdingpookets Y therein will be successively movedinto vending position. A housing is provided around the lower portion of the drum so that .the articles in the lower portion of the drum,

No. 195,440. -Renewedsaune 4,1931.

which is mounted to `rotante Ona-horizontal axis, will not be inadvertently discharged i saV pair of ratchet wheels, aV pawl for-rotating one ofsaidratchet wheelsand a stop` finger for holding the other ratchet wheel against' rotation, the teeth of said ratchet wheels being oppositely directed sothat the stop finger holds the drum from rotating` in the dire@ tionin Ywhich the same wouldbe normally rotated byf'means'of the pawl. Said means further `comprises means for disengaging said stop finger from the holding ratchet and means for actuating the actuating pawl, said A last mentioned means operating said stop finger disengaging means'through a coin inserted? into the machine, whereby the machine is coin controlled.

It is alsok an object'of my inventionto pro- "vide means whereby said drum can be released for iillingpurposes and to further provide a shutter for closing the slot so that the,

articles inthe machine will not be dischargedVV while the drum Vis being rotated during the filling operation.

inasmuch Aasvr the housing does not extend aroundthe upper `portion of the drum.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention willappear as theY description of the drawings proceeds. `Ik desire to have it understood, however, that` Ldo Ynot intend to limit myself tothe detailsof construction n The upper portion of the A. drum isv accessible for filling purposes when y the outer "casing-ofthe machine isopened, '9U 'n shown ory described, but that I intend to include `as part of my invention all such obvi'f` ous changes fandmoditicationsas would occur pockets.

to a person skilled in this art and as' would fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved vending machine, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 lis a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof, with the drum omitted.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view of a portion of the operating mechanism in changed position.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section. y

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of said machine, the operating mechanism being shown in plan. e

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ratchet wheels and a portion of the operating mechanism co-operating therewith.

Fig. 7 is aperspective view of a portion of the ratchet actuating pawl and guide separated.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the stop finger and stop releasing means, and f Y Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective View of the shutter operating handle and the holding means therefor.

Referring in detail to the drawings, my improved vending machine comprises a cabinet or outer casing .having av bottom 10, hinged rear wall 11, side walls 12, a front wall 13 and a top 14. Therear wall 11 is held in closed position by means of the lock l5.

Removably mounted within the outer casing or cabinet is the vending apparatus comprising a pair of side plates 16 which are secured together by means of the rods 17, secured by the screws 18. Mounted in bearings 19 provided in said side vplates is the shaft 20. The shaft 2O extends through a hardwood spool or hub member 21 slotted to receive the radially extending plates or parti tion members 22, of which any desired number may be provided. The hub member21 also has the disks 23 Isecured thereto at opposite ends thereof. Said disks being slotted to receive the ears 22 on the platesr22 for securing said plates and disks together. A drum provided with a plurality of sectorshaped pockets is thus provided on the shaft 20, the disks 23 forming the end walls of said The plates 22 are equidistantly spaced aroundA the hub, and thus provide pockets or compartments of uniform size around the drum. Y

A pair yof transversely extending bars 24 are also providedbetween the side plates 16, said bars having down-turned ends 25 secured in any desired manner to said side plates. Supported from said bars 24 is a housing or guard member 26 substantially semi-cylindrical in form and embracing the lower 'halfof the drum, said guard member being slightly spaced from the drum to pervending apparatus, and is secured thereto in any desired manner. The slot 27 is of such a width that the same will align with the open end of any one of the compartments of the drum, but is of such a size that only one of said compartments will be capable of discharging its contents by gravity through said slot, at one time. Y

Mounted on one end of the shaft 20 beyond one of the side plates 23 is a hub member 30, which may be of any desired material, in the present case .being made of wood. Mounted on opposite ends ofsaid hub member 30 are the ratchet wheels 31 and 32, the same being secured to said hubV 30 in any desired manner. A spacing member 33 is mounted between the ratchet member 31 and the side plate 23 adjacent thereto, and said hub 30 is secured to the hub 21 by means of fastening elements 34.

` Upon reference to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the teeth on theratchet wheels 31 and 32 are inclined in opposite directions. Thus the teeth 35 on the wheel 31 arefso inclined that the wheel 31 can be driven in a clockwise direction by means of a pawl Vco-operating with said teeth, and the teeth 36 on the wheel 32 are so inclined that a holding finger engaging therewith will hold the same from movement in a clockwise direction. Suitable means is provided for advancing the ratchet lwheel 31 one tooth at a time in a clockwise direction and as the number of teeth on the wheel 31 and also on the wheel 32 corresponds to the number of compartments in the drum each movement of the ratchet wheel 31 in its step by step rotation will bring one of the compartments in alignment with the slot 27, to discharge the contents thereof through said slot by the action of gravity.

The means for actuating the ratchet wheel 31, comprises a lever 37 pivoted at 38 on one of the side plates 16 and having an end portion 39 extending through a slot 40 in the front wally 13 of the cabinet. Detachably rsecured to the end portion 39 of the lever 37 in any suitable manner is the handle or knob 41. The lever 37 is provided with an offset 42 therein from which the headed pivot member 43 projects. The pivot member 43 extends through a slot 44 in the pawl member 45 having a laterally extending tooth 46 adapted to engage with thek teeth 35 on the rachet wheel 31. The pawl 45 is also provided with a lat` erally projecting ear 47 extending in an opposite direction to the tooth 46, said ear being slidably mounted in the open ended slot 48 formed between the bifurcations 49 provided on the offset end 50 of the arm 51 secured in lixed position,v` in i any `preferred manner, to the one sideiplate'lG; Theslot -48 is provided with a bevelled'wall portion 52 and the ear 47 hasa correspondingly ,bevelled edge portion 53. The finger `47 being smaller than the slot 48, said bevelled por.

-direction (in Fig. 6), the lower edge `54 of said tooth 46 being bevelled to properly engage with the teeth 35. The lever 37 is provided with a spring 55'having one end engaged in an eye 56 in the lever 37 and-the other end engagedwith a hook 57 on the plate 16, for holding they lever normally in an upward, retracted position. 1

The cabinet front wall-13 is provided'with a` coin slot 58 from which the coin guide59 extends to the stop releasing lever 60 pivoted to the side plate 16 at 61. Saidstop releasing lever 60 has the plate 62 secured to the lower end thereof, said plate having a curved end 64 extending beyond the end of the lever thus providing a shoulder at 63 on said lever with which the coin 65 engages as it. reaches the end of the coin guide 59. The coin is held in position between the shoulder 63 and the end of the bottom of the guide 59 and beside the plate 62 until the lever 37 is actuated as will be explained below.- 1

Pivoted on the side plate 16at66 is the stop finger 67 having the laterally extending tooth 68 having the bevelled edge 69 engagingthe teeth 36 on the ratchet 'wheel 32 to hold the sam-e against rotation in a clockwise direction (in Fig. 6). The stop finger is held nor` Y mally in engagement with the ratchet wheel by means of the spring 70 havingone end engaged in the eye 71in the. member 67 and the other end engaged around the screw y72 mounted in the side plate 16.

The stop finger 67 -is provided with ay reduced end portion 73-projecting beyond the tooth 68 which is located above the laterally projecting lug 74 on the lever60 so as to be in position to be engaged thereby. A guide plate 77 having the-outwardly offset central portion 78,is mounted on the plate 16, said offset portion receiving the slide 7 9 having the finger pieceV 8() and the stop lug 81Y on the end thereof. The slide 79 is `further provided with the bevelled edge portion82 and the cam portion 83 between which the oppositely inclined edge portion 84 is provided,l

on the offset end 85 of said slide. The lug 74 normally rests in the angle formed between the cam portion 83 and the edge 84,' and is out of engagement with the reduced end -73 of the stop nger 67. Y

The lever 37 has a rod 86 pivoted in the Oifset 42 therein, at one endthereof, and --has the opposite end 87 thereof pivoted in an opening inthe vplunger 88. The plunger 8 8 is slidably-mounte'din the outwardly offset portion 89of the guide plate 90. The plunger has a bevelled edge portion 91 and a relatively blunt end 92 adapted to engage with the coin 65 as the plunger is moved downwardly. The angularity of the shoulder 64 to the guide 59. is such that if the proper size coin is inserted inthe slot 58 land reaches .the position shown in Fig; 6, the plunger will wedge the lever 60, by .means of the coin, to turn the same on its axis, as. shown in Fig. 3, lifting the lug 74 0H the slide 79 and disengaging the tooth 68 from the ratchet wheel 32. After this has occurred, due to provision of the slot 44, the pawll 45 is rocked advancing the ratchet wheel 35 one tooth in a clockwise direction (in Fig. 6), whereupon the stop member again engages with the ratchetwheel 32 and the other parts resume their original position.

Inorder to fill the machine without.r discharging the contents thereof4 the curved shut-V ter 93 is provided, said shutter beingguided in its movements by means of the guide-flanges 94V andbeingr actuated so as to be'moved Vinto position over the slot 27 and out of such position, by means of theflever 95 having the i link 96 pivoted thereto and to the shutter 93,

thejoperatinghandle portion 99 extendingv across the rearside of the'maehine normally engaged'withfithe'hook 10() onthe cross bar 24, -but movable downwardly out of such position to move the shutter over the lslot 27.

To ll the machine the hinged krear wall is swung to .open position, the handle 99 is operated to move the shutter .in front of the slot 27 andthe slide `7 9 is moved toward the rear ofthe machine, until the shoulder 101 engages with the guide77. As the slide is moved rearwardly, the lug 74;rides up on the inclined Ycam surface 83, and4 raises with it the stop finger 67, releasing the tooth 68 from the ratchet wheel32. This permits the drum to be rotated by hand in the direction in which it is normally actuated by the pawl 45, and permits filling of allgthe empty comparte ments of the drum. The machine. is reset for operation bypushing theV slide 79 forwardly-until the rlug81 engages theguide 77, permitting the lug 74 and the stop finger 67 to return to normal position due to=action of theV spring 70. The handle'99` is then actuated empty when .thefmachine 'starts operation, vand if any'denitenumber of articles are to be vended with yeach fillingfofqthe rmachin'e, the

chine are two envelopes 102, four sheets of paper 103 and two two-cent postage stamps 104. The various articles included in this combination may be held in proper assembled relation by means ofY a 'clip 105, or any other preferred holding `means may be provided.

The combination of articles referred to above is preferably vendedfor five cents, and the coin 65 is insuch case a five cent piece, there being, of course one set of the articles referred to above provided in each compartment of the'drum. After the coin 65 has been forced downwardly by means of the plunger 88, the same drops into the coin chute 106 provided below the coin guide 59, and travels along the same until it passes out through the slot 107 into the coin box 108. The coin box 108 is detachably secured to the one side plate 16 by means of the screws 109 passing through the keyhole slots 110 in the box 108.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a vendingmachine, a drum mounted for rotation about its axis, and means for rotating said drum step by step comprising a pair of ratchet wheels having oppositely directed teeth, a pivoted operating lever, a pawl connected therewith and engaging one of said ratchet wheels to rotatethe same, a stop member normally engaging the other of said "i5 ratchet wheels and coin-controlled means for disengaging Asaid stop memberl from its ratchet wheel. Y Y

2. In a vending machine, a drum mounted for rotation about its axis, and means for rotating said drum step by step'comprising a pair of ratchet wheels having oppositely directed teeth, a plivoted operating lever, a pawl connected t erewith and engaging one of said ratchet wheels to rotate the same, a

stop member normally engaging the other of said ratchet wheels and coin-controlled means for disengaging said stop member from its ratchet wheel prior to actuating said pawl to rot-ate its ratchet wheel the distance of one tooth, comprising a coin engaging plunger connected with said pivoted'lever.

3. In a vending machine, adrum mounted for rotation about its axis, andmeans for rotating said drum step by step comprising a pair of ratchet wheels having oppositely directed teeth, a pivoted operating lever, an arm pivotally carried thereby and comprising a pawl engaging one of said ratchet wheels to rotate the same, means for guiding the movements of said pawl, a stop member normally engaging the other of said ratchet wheels and coin controlled means for disengaging said stop member from its ratchet wheel. r

yA. In a vending machine, a drum mounted for rotation about its axis and means for rotating said drum. step by step comprising a pairv of ratchet wheels having oppositely directed teeth, a pawl engaging one of said ratchet wheels, a stop member normally engaging the other of said ratchet wheels and means for disengaging said stop member from its ratchet wheel, comprising a slidabler cam member and means for moving said cam member to raise said stop away from its ratchet wheel. Y

5. In a vending machine, a drum mounted for rotation about its axis, and means for rotating said drum step by step comprising a pair of ratchet wheels having oppositely directedteeth, Ya pawlengaging one of said ratchet wheels, a .stop member normally engaging the other of Asaid ratchet wheels and coin controlled means for disengaging said stop member from its ratchet wheel, comprising a pivoted lever having means thereon for raising said stop Ymember away from said ratchet wheel, a hand lever connected with said pawl and a plunger actuated by said hand lever toy impinge a coin against said pivoted lever whereby the same is rocked to raisesaid stop member.

6. In a vending machine, a'drum mounted for rotation about its axis, a holding ratchet wheel thereon, a stop'member engaging said ratchet and means for'disengaging said stop member from its said ratchet comprising a slidable cam member and means for moving said cam member to raise said stop away from said ratchet wheel.

7. In a vending machine, a drum mounted for rotation about its axis, and means for rotating said drum step by step comprising a pair of ratchet wheels having oppositely directed teeth, an elongated arm having a pawl on the end thereof engaging one of said ratchet whee'ls, means for holding said pawl in engagement therewith, a hand lever loosely pivotally connected with said elongated arm, a stop member, and coin-controlled means for releasing said stop member connected with said hand lever and comprising a pivoted arm engaging said stop member to raise the same off its ratchet wheel. '8. In a vending machine, a drum mounted for rotation about itsaxis, and means for rotating said drum step by step comprising a pair of ratchet wheels having oppositely directed teeth, .a pawl engaging'one of said ratchetwheels, anda st'op member normally engaging the other of said ratchet wheels, coin controlled means for disengaging said stop member from its ratchet whee'l and means independent of said coin controlled means for disengaging said stop member fromits ratchet wheel.

9. -In a vending machine, a drum mounted for rotation about its axis, and means for rotating said drumvstep by stepv comprising a pair of ratchet wheels having oppositely directed teeth, an operating lever pivoted near one end thereof, an arm loosely pivoted on said lever, a paWl on the oposite end of said n arm engaging one of said ratchet Wheels to rotate the same, a pivoted stop member engaging the other of said ratchet Wheels, a pivot arm adapted to engage said stop member to disengage the same from said ratchet Wheel and coin controlled means for moving said lastmentioned arm on its pivot comprising a coin engaging plunger and means connecting said plunger with said lever.

l0. In a vending machine, a drum mounted for rotation aboutits axis, and means for rotating said drum step by step comprising a pair of ratchet Wheels having oppositely directed teeth, an operating leverpivoted near one end thereof, a pawl on the opposite end of said arm engaging one of said ratchet Wheels to rotate the same, a pivoted stop memher engaging the other of said ratchet Wheels, a pivot arm adapted to engage said stop memher to disengage the same from said ratchet Wheel, coin controlled means for movlngsaid last mentioned arm on its pivot comprising a coin engaging plunger and meansl connecting said plunger with said lever and a slidable cam device for disengaging said stop member from said ratchet Wheel independently of said coin controlled means.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of May, 1927. PAUL W. H. DEWITZ. 

